Opening Options

More Resources

Changes to legislation:

There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Compensation Act 2006. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

Changes and effects

This section lists the changes and effects yet to be applied to the specific provision you are viewing.

Commencement Orders yet to be applied to the Compensation Act 2006

Commencement Orders

This section lists the commencement orders yet to be applied to the whole Act. These effects are included in this view as they may be (but won’t necessarily be) relevant to the specific provision that you are viewing. Where applicable the commencement orders are listed under two headings, firstly those that bring some part of the Act you are viewing into force and secondly, those that bring into force legislation that affects some part of the legislation you are viewing. If you are viewing a prospective version or there is a prospective version available there may be commencement orders listed here that are relevant to the provision you are viewing.

Commencement Orders bringing legislation that affects this Act into force:

3Mesothelioma: damagesE+W+S+N.I.

(a)a person (“the responsible person”) has negligently or in breach of statutory duty caused or permitted another person (“the victim”) to be exposed to asbestos,

(b)the victim has contracted mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos,

(c)because of the nature of mesothelioma and the state of medical science, it is not possible to determine with certainty whether it was the exposure mentioned in paragraph (a) or another exposure which caused the victim to become ill, and

(d)the responsible person is liable in tort, by virtue of the exposure mentioned in paragraph (a), in connection with damage caused to the victim by the disease (whether by reason of having materially increased a risk or for any other reason).

(2)The responsible person shall be liable—

(a)in respect of the whole of the damage caused to the victim by the disease (irrespective of whether the victim was also exposed to asbestos—

(i)other than by the responsible person, whether or not in circumstances in which another person has liability in tort, or

(ii)by the responsible person in circumstances in which he has no liability in tort), and

(b)jointly and severally with any other responsible person.

(3)Subsection (2) does not prevent—

(a)one responsible person from claiming a contribution from another, or

(b)a finding of contributory negligence.

(4)In determining the extent of contributions of different responsible persons in accordance with subsection (3)(a), a court shall have regard to the relative lengths of the periods of exposure for which each was responsible; but this subsection shall not apply—

(a)if or to the extent that responsible persons agree to apportion responsibility amongst themselves on some other basis, or

(b)if or to the extent that the court thinks that another basis for determining contributions is more appropriate in the circumstances of a particular case.

(5)In subsection (1) the reference to causing or permitting a person to be exposed to asbestos includes a reference to failing to protect a person from exposure to asbestos.

(6)In the application of this section to Scotland—

(a)a reference to tort shall be taken as a reference to delict, and

(b)a reference to a court shall be taken to include a reference to a jury.

(7)The Treasury may make regulations about the provision of compensation to a responsible person where—

(a)he claims, or would claim, a contribution from another responsible person in accordance with subsection (3)(a), but

(b)he is unable or likely to be unable to obtain the contribution, because an insurer of the other responsible person is unable or likely to be unable to satisfy the claim for a contribution.

(8)The regulations may, in particular—

(a)replicate or apply (with or without modification) a provision of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme;

(b)replicate or apply (with or without modification) a transitional compensation provision;

(c)provide for a specified person to assess and pay compensation;

(d)provide for expenses incurred (including the payment of compensation) to be met out of levies collected in accordance with section 213(3)(b) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8) (the Financial Services Compensation Scheme);

(g)modify the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 in its application to an amendment pursuant to paragraph (f);

(h)make, or require the making of, provision for the making of a claim by a responsible person for compensation whether or not he has already satisfied claims in tort against him;

(i)make, or require the making of, provision which has effect in relation to claims for contributions made on or after the date on which this Act is passed.

(9)Provision made by virtue of subsection (8)(a) shall cease to have effect when the Financial Services Compensation Scheme is amended by the Financial Services Authority by virtue of subsection (8)(f).

(10)In subsections (7) and (8)—

(a)a reference to a responsible person includes a reference to an insurer of a responsible person, and

(b)“transitional compensation provision” means a provision of an enactment which is made under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and—

(i)preserves the effect of the Policyholders Protection Act 1975 (c. 75), or

(ii)applies the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in relation to matters arising before its establishment.

(11)Regulations under subsection (7)—

(a)may include consequential or incidental provision,

(b)may make provision which has effect generally or only in relation to specified cases or circumstances,

(c)may make different provision for different cases or circumstances,

(d)shall be made by statutory instrument, and

(e)may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Print Options

Print The Whole Act

Print The Whole Part

Print This Section only

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made):The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy

lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item

confers power and blanket amendment details

all formats of all associated documents

correction slips

links to related legislation and further information resources

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy